Pilot parachute pack external type



June 29, 1954 R. w. BARNES PILOT PARACHUTE PACK EXTERNAL TYPE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 22, 1952 June 29, 1954 R, w, BARNES 2,682,382

PILOT PARACHUTE PACK EXTERNAL TYPE Filed July 22, 1952 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 29, 1954 PILOT PARACHUTE PACK EXTERNAL TYPE Richard W. Barnes, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Application July 22, 1952, Serial No. 300,368

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

8 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to parachute packs of the envelope type and particularly to a new and improved means for housing and releasing the chutes of said packs.

In the manufacture of parachute-packs of the envelope type it is common practice to store the A main parachute on the bottom of the envelope and the pilot parachute immediately on top of the main parachute, with spring means suitably secured between the main and the pilot chutes and biased to eject the pilot chute out of the envelope, the flaps of the envelope being folded over the main and the pilot parachutes and releasably held by appropriate fastening means until a situation arises requiring their release.

Some of the disadvantages accruing to the iff above conventional practice are that the spring actuated pilot chute must push aside the main aps of the envelope in order to spring free. Additionally, elastic strips are required to assist in withdrawing the flaps from over the pilot chute to clear it for release.

Further disadvantages of the conventional construction, supra, are that where a single envelope is made large enough to contain the main parachute, it does not confine the pilot chute into a small enough area, thereby having a tendency to shift and foul, one chute fouling on the other.

In the invention herein shown and described,

a separate envelope for holding the pilot chute is mounted on the outer surface of the main en- I velope which contains the main chute, the pilot envelopes being locked closed and released by the same lock-and-release system which locks and releases the main pack. This is an important feature of the invention.

The improved pilot chute pack is so constructed that when the ripcord is pulled and the single lock and release is thereby unlocked, the improved pilot chute pack by reason of the spring means in the pilot chute allows the pilot chute to spring into the air ahead of the main parachute to a position beyond turbulence.

The envelope for the pilot pack consists of a plurality of secondary flaps laid upon and sewed to the side iiaps of the main parachute pack.

sec. 266) Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the cones and the pull or ripcord pins, whereby a single movement of the rip cord wire releases both the main and the pilot chutes.

Fig. 3 is a rear View of the pack with the cover flaps laid back exposing the inner free flaps under which the pilot chute is tucked. Fig. l is a side elevational View partly broken away back to the center line of the pack which shows various layers or ilaps of the main and pilot chutes.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing a main panel is of a size to 1 substantially cover the backof the average human body, the harness and the other means for securing the pack to the body being carried on the front of the panel and therefore is not shown and the rear of the panel serving as the main member of the envelope which contains the pack. Subject invention is concerned only with the pack which is carried on the back of the wearer, and a simplied means for locking and releasing it.

In the exemplification of subject invention hereinY disclosed the main envelope 9 consists of the back panel I6 with side flaps i2 and I2 and end naps I4 and I4 sewed or otherwise secured to, or made as integral parts of the long and short sides respectively of the back panel Il).

Conventional cones I6 and I6 are fast in the freeends of the end aps I4 and I4 and grommets I) and I8 in the free ends of the side ilaps and i9, I9', 2|, 2I in the pilot chute cover ilaps are properly spaced to fit over the cones and are held on the cones by conventional pull pins or ripcord pins 2l) and 2li which are connected together for simultaneous disengagement by cable 22 and 22.

The pilot pack 24 is carried on, and attached to, the main pack envelope 9 and consists of pilot chute container I'I and a pilot chute canopy SI said pack comprising somewhat semicircular cover naps 26, 26 which are sewed, one on each side along the line 28 to 3l), to the outer surface of the main side aps I2 or I2 of the main envelope t. IIwo ninety degree segmental flaps 32 under each one hundred eighty degree cover flap 26 are provided for tucking in the pilot chute as it is being packed, to keep it from spreading over too large an area.

Ilhe cones I6 and I6', the grommets I3 and IB and pull pins or ripcord pins 2) and 2li and their cables 22 and 22 constitute the means which coincidentally lock or open both the main envelope and the pilot chute pack.

A narrow flap 34 is provided for covering the lock-and-release mechanism to prevent injury thereto which might affect its proper operation. Cooperating snap fasteners 36 which are attached to the flaps 26 and 34' hold the narrow nap 34' to the flap 26 on its inner side.

The operation of the herein disclosed embodiment of my invention may preferably be substantially as follows:

When the main pack 9 is to be opened, the cables 22 and 22', carrying the ripcord pins 2B and 20, are pulled to remove the pins from the cross holes in the cones I6 and I6. This unlocks main chute flaps l2, l2', I4, i4 and pilot chute cover naps i6, 26 and segmental flaps 32 whereby the spring actuated pilot chute springs free into the air stream and pulls out the main chute Il@ from the pack 9.

The advantages gained by the improved device herein disclosed are as follows:

By stowing the pilot chute pack on the outside of the main parachute pack, improved operation is attained due to the absence of friction between the pilot chute and the heavy main pack flaps and due also to the elimination of the occasional fouling of the pilot pack with the main parachute pack.

With the improved construction herein disclosed the need for the conventional flap-opening elastics is eliminated since the pilot parachute spring 2da has only the relatively small pilot aps to overcome in springing the pilot parachute out whereby the cost is reduced and the construction simplified.

By using the improved construction herein disclosed, a more effective and safer deployment of the main parachute is achieved, this by reason of the fact that the pilot chute springs from a firmer base to a distance beyond turbulence and with much less friction to overcome.

In the improved external-pilot-chute pack herein disclosed, the release of the pilot chute takes place immediately after the pulling of the ripcord, whereas in conventional practice the release of the pilot chute follows the release of the main pack and the withdrawal of the main pack flaps by the elastic strips.

Having described an embodiment of my invention, its objects, operation, and advantages, I claim:

l. In an improved parachute pack, a main envelope comprising a back portion having end flaps and side flaps extending from the opposite ends and sides of said back portion toward each other, to enclose a main parachute therebetween, with their free ends in overlapping relation, a pair of complemental pilot parachute enclosing flaps, each secured at one edge to the outer surface of one of the side flaps in spaced relation to said overlapping end portions and extending toward each other across the exterior surfaces of said side flaps with their free ends overlapping each other in outwardly spaced relation to the overlapping ends of said side flaps, for retaining a packed pilot parachute adapted to be connected to the main parachute between the outer surface of said side flaps and the inner surface of said complemental flaps, and simultaneously releasable securing means at the opposite extremities of said overlapping ends of said side flaps and the opposite ends of the overlapping edges of said complemental pilot parachute flaps, for releasably connecting said overlapping ends of said side aps and said overlapping ends of the pilot parachute aps together with a packed pilot parachute retained therebetween.

2, In an improved parachute pack, a main parachute receiving envelope having a back portion and side flaps each connected at one end at opposite sides of the back portion with the free edges thereof disposed in overlapping relation to confine a main parachute therein, a pair of complemental pilot parachute receiving pockets, each secured to the exterior surface of one of the overlapping side flaps at a remote distance from its overlapping edge and extending across the exterior of its connected side ila-p toward said overlapping edges to form opposing pilot parachute receiving pockets arranged to each receive substantially one half of the packed pilot parachute therein, and common simultaneously releasable securing means connecting the opposite extremities of the overlapping edges of said side flaps, at the opposite sides of said complemental pockets, for retaining a main packed parachute between said side aps and said back portion, and retaining a connected packed pilot parachute in said complemental pockets between the same and the outer surfaces of the side flaps intermediate the overlapping ends of said side flaps and the complemental receiving ends of the pilot parachute receiving pockets.

3. In an improved parachute pack, a main parachute retaining envelope comprising a central body portion having end and side flaps extending from the oppostie ends and opposite sides thereof with their free edges disposed in overlapping relation, to completely enclose a packed main parachute therein, a pair of opposing complemental pilot parachute retaining flaps connected to the outer surface of said side flap in spaced relation to each other at opposite sides of said overlapping edges of said side flaps and extending across the outer surfaces of the side flap toward each other with their free edges overlapping each other in outwardly spaced relation l to the opposite extremities of the overlapping edges of said side flaps, to receive a packed pilot parachute for the main packed parachute between the outer surfaces of the side flaps and the inner surfaces of the complemental pilot parachute retaining fiaps and between said overlapping edges of said side flaps and said overlapping edges of said pilot parachute retaining flaps, and spaced simultaneously releasable retaining means carried at the opposite extremities of said overlapping edges, for receiving and retaining the pilot parachute therebetween, to releasably secure the opposite extremities of said overlapping edges of said side flaps and said overlapping edges of said pilot parachute retaining flaps together at the opposite sides of the pilot parachute.

4. In an improved parachute pack, a main parachute enclosure having a main panel and flexible end and side panels extending from the opposite ends and sides of said main panel to receive a packed main parachute therebetween. with said end and side panels encircling said main parachute and the free edges of said end and side panels disposed in overlapping relation, a pilot parachute receiving envelope secured to the exterior of said main envelope, comprising a pair of separate complemental pilot parachute receiving flap members, each secured at one end to the outer surface of one of the side panels in oppositely spaced relation to said overlapping edges. with their free opposite ends overlapping outwardly in spaced relation in front of said overlapping edges of said side panels, to receive and retain a packed pilot chute for the main parachute between the overlapping edges of said side panels and the overlapping ends of said complemental pilot chute receiving flap members, releasable fastening means securing the overlapping edges of said main parachute envelope panels and the overlapping ends of the complemental pilot parachute receiving flap members together at the opposite extremities of said overlapping edges for releasing said overlapping edges of said main chute closure panels and said overlapping ends of said pilot parachute receiving ilap members, for releasing said pilot chute immediately in advance of the release of the main parachute.

5. An improved parachute pack comprising a main parachute enclosing envelope having a back portion, side iiaps extending from the opposite sides of the back portion adapted to receive a main packed parachute therebetween, with said side flaps enclosing the main parachute, the free ends of said side flaps having elongated parallel overlapping edges, a pilot parachute envelope formed on the exterior of the main parachute enclosing envelope extending over the opposite sides of the said elongated parallel overlapping edges comprising a pair of complemental pilot parachute enclosing flaps, each connected at one end to the outer surface of one of the side aps intermediate said back portion and its overlapping end, said complemental flaps extending toward each other across the outer surface of said side aps and formed with elongated parallel overlapping ends at their free ends overlaying the parallel overlapping ends of the side flaps in outwardly spaced relation thereto, for receiving a l packed pilot parachute for the main packed chute thereunder intermediate the outer surface of said side aps and the inner surface of said complemental pilot parachute flaps and intermediate the opposite longitudinal extremities the parallel overlapping ends of sai-d side dans and the longitudinal extremities of said complemental pilot parachute flaps, aligned openings formed in the outer extremities of the overlapping ends of the said side flaps and the outer extremities of the overlapping ends of the complemental pilot parachute flaps, at opposite side of the pilot chute receiving space, releasable locking means extending through each group of said aligned openings to hold said overlapping ends of said side and complemental flaps in superimposed relation with a pilot parachute therebetween and release means for simultaneously releasing the locking means, whereby the overlapping ends of the complemental pilot parachute flaps are released slightly in advance of the release of the overlapping ends of said side ilaps, to release the pilot parachute slightly in advance of the release of the main parachute.

6. In combination with a main parachute pack having an elongated back portion, and end and side naps connected to the opposite ends and sides of the back portion with the free ends of said side Iiaps in separable overlapping parallel relation over a median line through the back portion and the free ends of said end flaps overlapping the opposite extremities of the overlapping ends of said side aps, to completely enclose a packed main parachute therein; a pair of complemental pilot parachute retaining aps secured to the exterior of said side flaps at opposite sides of said overlapping parallel ends thereof, to receive a packed pilot parachute thereunder, said complemental pilot parachute flaps having parallel overlapping ends located to extend across a packed pilot parachute, when placed thereunder, and extending in parallel relation to the aforesaid median plane and the overlapping ends of the side flaps, aligned grummets xed in the opposite extremities of the overlapping ends of said side flaps and in the overlapping extremity of each end flap and in the overlapping extremities of each of said complemental flaps, tapered locking cones extending outwardly through said aligned grummets for retaining the overlapping ends of said side and complemental aps in connected relation with the extremities of said end aps, releasable locking pin means in said cones exteriorly of said complemental pilot parachute aps for preventing removal of said aligned grummets therefrom, and release means for simultaneously withdrawing said locking pin means to free said overlapping ends of said complemental pilot parachute naps, and free the overlapping ends of said side and end flaps immediately thereafter.

7. In combination with a main parachute pack having an elongated back portion and end and side aps connected thereto at its opposite ends and sides, with their free ends disposed in overlapping relation to receive a conventional packed main parachute therein; a pair of complemental pilot parachute retaining flaps secured to the exterior of the main parachute pack at opposite sides of the overlapping ends of the side flaps to receive and retain a conventional packed pilot parachute for the aforesaid main packed parachute thereunder, between the exterior of the main parachute pack and the interior of said complemental pilot parachute retaining iiaps, intermediate their secured portions on said side flaps., said complemental pilot chute retaining aps having elongated parallel separable overlapping free end portions shaped to extend across the center of the said packed pilot parachute beyond the opposite sides thereof, simultaneously releasable connecting means at the opposite extremities of the overlapping ends of said complemental retaining flaps for connecting said extremities to the overlapping ends of the side and end iiaps for substantially simultaneous release thereof, whereby to release the overlapping ends of said complemental flaps to free the pilot parachute independently of and immediately before the release of the overlapping ends of the side and end flaps to free the main parachute, and ejection means positioned between the outer surface of the main pack and the pilot parachute, for opening the complemental flaps upon release thereof and ejecting the pilot parachute therebetween outwardly away from the overlapping ends of said side and end flaps.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including a pair of complemental pilot parachute retainer pockets located between the exterior surface of said side flaps and the under surface of said complemental parachute retainer flaps, said complemental parachute retainer pockets being each secured on the outer surface of each one of said side flaps intermediate the secured ends of the complemental retainer iiaps and the said overlapping edges of the said side flaps, and shaped to receive a material portion of a packed pilot parachute therein, with the pilot parachute receiving openings of said pockets facing each other, inwardly of the overlapping parallel end portions of said complemental pilot parachute retainer flaps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,052,503 Tricau Aug. 25, 1936 2,495,393 Stretch Jan. 24, 1950 2,498,505 Quilter Feb. 21, 1950 

